Coral Island, Phuket: What to Expect on a Tour
By the PhuketGO tour desk on Phuket — we book and run these trips every week · Updated 3 October 2026
Coral Island is about half an hour by boat from Rawai, in the south of Phuket, and it's a beach-and-lunch stop more than a quiet one: an easy entry into the water, water sports run by beach operators, and a snorkel in Hin Dam bay on the far side. Three of our tours land there, from a half day back by 14:00 to a full day that starts at Racha Yai.
Tours and prices in Thai baht
| Tour | Duration | Adult | Child 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coral island from Rawai pier | Half a day, 08:30–14:00 | 1,400 ฿ | 1,300 ฿ |
| Racha and Coral islands by speedboat | Eight to nine hours | 1,400 ฿ | 1,300 ฿ |
| Racha Yai and Coral island at sunrise | One day, 04:30–15:30 | 1,600 ฿ | 1,300 ฿ |
Prices come straight from our booking system. Children under four join free on most trips — each tour page says so.
What the island is like
Think beach day, not wilderness. Coral Beach is busy in the way a good family beach is busy: people swimming, lunch tables, parasails going up behind a boat. Our Racha card puts it plainly: Coral island has the easier entry from the beach and everything else going on around it, while Racha Yai has the clearer water.
The snorkelling is on the other side. On the half day from Rawai the boat crosses to Hin Dam bay at 13:00, after lunch, so you get a quieter bay with a mask before heading home. Masks and life jackets are on the boat.
Three ways to get there from Phuket
Our Coral island half day is the one I'd suggest if you have kids or just want the afternoon free. You meet the crew at Rawai pier at half past eight (the minivan collects you before that), and half an hour after the boat leaves you're stepping onto Coral Beach. Lunch is at noon, seafood and Thai dishes. After it the boat takes you round to Hin Dam bay for a snorkel, and by two you're back at the pier.
If you'd rather have clearer water too, take the Racha and Coral speedboat. It spends the morning at Racha Yai, reaches Coral island around half past twelve, gives you lunch at a beachfront restaurant and the whole afternoon there, and leaves at four. Early risers can do the sunrise version: a long morning on Racha Yai, then Coral island from 11:40 to 14:50 with lunch on the beach.
- A short morning with small children — Coral island from Rawai pier
- Clear water first, then Coral island's beach — Racha and Coral islands by speedboat
- Racha Yai at dawn, Coral island for lunch — Racha Yai and Coral island at sunrise
Water sports and what they cost you
The parasails, banana boats and jet skis on Coral island aren't part of any tour. Beach operators run them and you pay on the spot, so bring cash if you fancy a go; our Racha card lists them as extras with price ranges. The Rawai half-day card treats beach water sports the same way.
On that half day the rest is covered: transfer from your hotel, coffee and tea at the pier, lunch and soft drinks, masks and life jackets, insurance and a guide. Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. You pay for alcohol and anything personal.
Coral Island with children
This is the island we'd point families to first. The crossing from Rawai is about half an hour, the start is at breakfast time rather than before dawn, and you're back on Phuket by 14:00. The beach has a gentle way into the water, which is exactly what you want with a four-year-old.
Children under four travel free, without a separate seat or meals. From 4 to 9 they pay the child price, from ten the adult price. Pack motion sickness tablets if anyone is prone to it; the half-day card suggests them. For a short stay, three days in Phuket shows how a Coral morning fits in.
When to go
The calmer, drier months are the better bet. The Thai Meteorological Department's 30-year averages for its Phuket station put February at about 24 mm of rain over three or four rainy days, with January and March also on the dry side, while September and October bring around 340 to 350 mm and more than 20 rainy days each. Those averages describe the climate, not your day.
Whatever the month, the boat only goes if the sea is open. If the authorities close it, the trip moves to another date or the payment comes back. For October specifically, see Phuket tours in October.
Booking and what to bring
Send the tour, the date, your hotel and everyone's ages in the chat. The pier and meeting time come in your booking confirmation, and if your area carries a transfer surcharge we say so before you pay. Payment by card online is agreed in the chat once the booking is confirmed.
Bring swimwear under your clothes, a beach towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and some cash for souvenirs and beach activities. For a closer look at where to snorkel, see Racha Yai or Coral island for snorkelling. For a private boat instead, see private tours from Phuket.
The tours on this page
Questions people ask
How far is Coral Island from Phuket?
About half an hour by boat from Rawai. On our half day the boat leaves at 09:00 and reaches Coral Beach at 09:30.
Can you snorkel at Coral Island?
Yes. On the half day from Rawai the snorkel is in Hin Dam bay on the far side of the island, at 13:00; the speedboat days snorkel in the afternoon. Masks are on the boat.
What is the best month for snorkelling at Coral Island?
The dry months, roughly January to March. The Thai Meteorological Department's averages for Phuket show February with about 24 mm of rain, against about 336 mm in October. No month guarantees a calm day.
Are water sports included on Coral Island tours?
No. Parasailing, banana boats and jet skis are run by beach operators and paid on the spot in cash.
Is Coral Island good for young children?
Yes, on the half day from Rawai: a short crossing, an easy beach and back by 14:00. Children under four travel free, without a separate seat or meals.
How long do tours stay on Coral Island?
On the half day, from 09:30 until the boat heads back at 14:00, with lunch and a snorkel in Hin Dam bay. The speedboat day spends about 12:30 to 16:00 there.
What type of boat is used for the Coral Island tour from Rawai Pier?
A speedboat, as on most of our sea tours. It leaves Rawai at 09:00 and you're on Coral Beach at 09:30.
Tell us your dates
Send the trip you like, your dates and your hotel. We confirm the pickup time and how the sea looks for that day. Payment is agreed in the chat after the booking is confirmed: by card, bank transfer or USDT.